Feeler device for knitting machines



Jan. 3, 19,50 H. A. TANGUAY 2,493,557

FEELER DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 8, 1947 2 sheets-'sheet 1 3 l y' y v w j at? f/Aez/E Y 721/v6a4 v ArrnRNEYa Jan. 3, 1950 H. A. TANGUAY FEELER DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 194'? I I l M JNVENTOR.

HAH/[y A Zim/@my @dal Y A'l-TURNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1950 FEELER DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Harvey A. Tanguay, Central Falls, R. I.

ApplicationApril 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,036

2 Claims. (Cl. Gli- 166) Thisl invention relates to a feeler device for knitting machines to lascertain whether there has been a dropped stitch in the cloth being formed by the knitting m-achine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeler device lwherein a long engagement of the feeler .device with the back plate through the hole of the cloth will be had so as to make certain that there will be a good contact and adequate signal given to the operator of the machine so that the hole in the cloth will be more definitely indicated to the operator.

Other objects of the present invention are to make a feeler device for recording the defects in the cloth which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efcient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following .detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a machine having the -feeler device of the present arrangement with portions broken away and shown in section so as to show the workings of the device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an illustrative view showing the location of the feeler element as the cloth is being passed by the same and just prior to it reaching a hole in the cloth.

Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 3 where the feeler element has dropped into the hole and has been moved rearwardly and made contact with the met-a1 wall of the cylinder containing the cloth.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 where the -feeler element has been carried by and is ready Ato be set again upon the cloth being examined.

Yfeeler element showing the control circuit for stopping the machine and giving an indication.

Referring now to the gures, -I5 represents a base of a machine to which a. ground wire I6 is connected. Extending upwardly from the base is a post I1 on which there is slidably connected a fixed laterally extending supporting arm I8. This arm is retained on the post I'I by a clamping screw I 9 and can be adjusted to any desired vertical position `on the post Il. To the bottom of the lateral support arm I8 there is connected =a plate 2l, Fig. 8, by means of a bolt 22 extended through a slot 23. This plate 2| can be adjusted to any distance beyond the end of the support arm I8 by loosening the bolt 22 and causing the plate to be moved outwardly. The outer end of the plate 2l has bifurcated portions 23 between -which is extended a vertical supporting arm 24. The connection of the arm 24 with the portions 23 is effected by a pivot pin 25. This arm '24 can swing laterally outwardly and is returned to its lowered position by a tension spring 26 connected between a hook 2l on the arm 24 and 1a hook or eye formation 28 on the plate 2 I.

On the lower end of the arm, there is fastened an inwardly extending arm 29 by a screw 3|. This arm 29 on its bottom face has connected to it feeler element 32 adapted to rotate across the bottom of the same and which has a feeler portion 33 thereon of rounded shape on its engaging :face and curved inwardly on its opposite face so as to Iform a hook which will enter the hole in cloth 35 so that the feeler element 32 will be pivoted by its connection with the cloth so as to be given a prolonged engagement with a cylinder Wall surface 36. When this contact is made, current will be set up in a wire circuit 31, Fig. 10. land a. control element or indicator 38 will be energized either to stop the machine or to give a signal to the operator. this circuit.

The operation of the feeler element and its engagement with the surface 36, will be more clearly understood by a study of Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 3 it will be noted that the hole is approaching the feeler portion 33. As the hole comes under the portion 33, the portion 33 will drop into the hole and will have Contact with the wall surface 36. The wall surface 36 and the cloth will continue to move and the contact of the portion 33 with the wall surface 36 will be prolonged until such time as the contact or feeler element 32 has been taken by as shown in Fig. 5. The feeler element 32 is pivotally connected on the arm 29 by means of a downwardly extending pivot pin 4I to which there is anchored a coil spring 42 having its outer end anchored as indicated at 43 upon the feeler element and tending to rotate the same in a clockwise direction as A battery 39 supplies current to 3 viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. A stop member projecting downwardly from the arm 29 will limit the rotating movement of the feeler element.v

This sto`p member is indicated at 44. The hole in the cloth material into which the feeler element portion 33 drops is indicated at 46.

As viewed in Fig. 6, it will be noted that while "the feeler element vis being pivoted on the arm 29, the vertical arm 24 can be extended'outwardly against the action of spring 26.

Having now described my invention, I claim-t.`

1. A feeler mechanism for locating holes in cloth, comprising a support with a vertical mem= ber thereon, a lateral arm extending from 'the vertical member, a plate connected tothe'lateral arm, a vertically swingable member pivotally connected to the plate, means adjustably 'connecting'v said plate to said lateral arm, a ieeler device. s

connected to the bottom end of the vertically swingable member comprising Va spring biased swingabl'e feeler element having a finger vformationithereonjoutwardly 'curved oni one side and inwardly curved on the other to forma vl'xook-like format-ion` adapted tofenter a Vhole in the cloth, andaftens-ic nV spring extending between and attached. Yto the verticallyV extending swingable memberand the plate for biasing the feeler device toward the hole in the cloth;

REFERENCES CITED TheV following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS 

